Been reading and re-reading all the helpful and interesting contributions. I now find myself struggling on another aspect:
When you complete the climb and level off in the cruise, I assume you don't reduce the "power" levers, rather you pitch to level, accelerate, and ONLY reduce your propeller condition?? Compressor sits around 96% most of time as pointed out.
(And) If you are more or less always at 96% (ish) the free/power turbine is always being subjected to a lot of energy isn't it? Surely 96% + power turbine + 1390 RPM means you are always going to be a "max speed and power."
Hope my puzzlement makes sense! Am I looking too deep?